Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(107)

"Do you think they caught the other?"

"I don't see why not." Jared spat at the ground, and his gaze fell to me. "You, boy, who was that friend you were traveling with?"

No. "J-just some boy, only met him this morn'," I croaked, attempting the same baritone as before.

"You are lying." Jared narrowed his eyes. "Tell me the truth. Is he another worthless brat like you, or does he have power?" His eyes gleamed over that last word. Power. Magic.

"I d-don't believe so—"

Before I could finish the lie, the man grabbed my wrist and thrust my hand into the fire. I screamed out as the flames licked my skin.

Jared let go, dropping my wrist as quickly as he had snatched it.

Blinking back tears I cradled my hand, careful not to touch the skin. It had turned a nasty, glistening red. It burned, and even though it had only been under fire for seconds, it felt as if it hadn't left.

"Well, well…"

I glanced up at the men, hate burning in my veins, and Jared shot me a secretive smile.

Panic struck my throat as I realized exactly what it meant.

He knew.

"Why don't you go collect us some more wood, Erwan?" Jared's eyes never left my face. "I would go myself, but someone's got to watch the boy."

Erwan shot Jared a confused look. "I just brought a whole lot of it—"

Jared snapped, "Just fetch us more wood, you dolt."

As soon as the large man had retired from sight, the bandit turned to face me, hunger playing across his malevolent gaze. Shadows from the fire leaped and danced, making the narrow chin, the long blond tresses, every inch of the swallow-faced man all the more menacing.

"Who would have thought?" he sneered. "A girl. And here I said no trickery when you were intending to play us all along."

I glanced around the site, desperate for an escape. If I ran now, would I make it far? I couldn't fight in the condition I was in. I'd only tussled with local children, never a full-grown man. I might be able to wrestle a boy my brother's size, but not someone a good foot taller and fifty pounds heavier.

Jared took a step closer, fingering the scabbard at his hip. "Now if you don't put up a fuss, I might be willing to forgive you."

Terror. Hate. Anger. Rage. The emotions all raced through me in a coursing panic. Bile filled my throat once more as sweat and fear drenched my skin. I tried to step back and tripped, both hands slamming the ground behind me. I cried out as the burned skin collided with hard earth, extreme pain and heat searing into my arm.

Jared leaped at me, flattening both wrists with his hands as his knees pinned my legs.

I will not scream.

The man bent low, breathing a foul, sour stench as he thrust his lips on mine. I threw my head forward and up, slamming it into his nose. Jared jerked back too late. There was a satisfying crunch and then the thick spray of blood.

"You insolent wench!" The man released my arm and struck my face, making me see nothing but black until my sight returned seconds later.

My face stung, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my hand as he dug his nails into the burn. Tears swarmed my vision, and I wished desperately I had found a way to access my magic. Like Alex.

Jared reached for the top of my tunic, and I swung my free arm as hard as it could reach. The man caught it, and I threw my weight into his hold, hoping to catch him off balance.

My act failed, and he sent me sprawling back, slapping me much harder than the last. I prepared for familiar darkness and was shocked instead when golden hues flooded my vision.

I barely registered my shock before the screaming started. I thought it was mine, but it was coming from the wrong direction.

I wondered if my hearing had been damaged.

The stifling pressure and golden glow released its hold. Nothing was keeping me down.

Scrambling in the aftershock, I attempted to pull myself from the ground, squinting uncertainly at the blinding light, trying to make sense of what had just taken place.

An immense pounding filled my head as I continued to stand and stare. The screams were like birdcalls, high and sharp. They kept going and going, and they hurt my ears. I clasped my hands to my mouth in an effort to end the noise. But my lips were shut. The cries were coming from the shimmering thing in front of me.

All at once my vision cleared, and I saw it was Jared. He was enshrouded in flame, fire eating away at flesh and cloth in a frantic inferno. Somehow, someway he had been put entirely ablaze. And the screaming…it was his.

Without bothering to witness the outcome, I hobbled past the shrieking figure and undid my mare's lead. Her eyes were wide and afraid. I prayed she wouldn't try to bolt. She was still saddled, and all of the supplies were still in their bags.

I made swift thanks to whatever luck had led me to this moment and did my best to ignore the pain as I used my bad hand to steady my grip at the back of the saddle while my good one gripped the front. Swinging my leg up and over, I was unable to mask the groan that escaped my lips. Every inch of me smarted.

Giving the mare a reassuring pat that I hoped was more calming to her than it was to me, I nudged her forward with my knees.

"What is— Get back here, boy!"

Erwan had returned. He still sounded far enough away, however, and so I leaned down, painstakingly, and undid the other two horses' leads.